Saturday 7 June 2008
Protesters march against eco-town
About 2,000 people have attended a protest rally against plans to build an eco-town at Ford in West Sussex.
People from surrounding villages turned out to hear speeches about the plans to build 5,000 homes on the former Ford Airfield site and surrounding farmland.
Protesters waved banners and posters and marched three miles along footpaths in countryside surrounding the site. Click here for more...
People from surrounding villages turned out to hear speeches about the plans to build 5,000 homes on the former Ford Airfield site and surrounding farmland.
Protesters waved banners and posters and marched three miles along footpaths in countryside surrounding the site. Click here for more...
TV presenter joins eco-town protest
TV presenter Ben Fogle was among 2,000 protesters who took part in a march against one of the Government's proposed eco-towns.
They waved banners and posters as they marched three miles along footpaths in countryside surrounding the shortlisted site at Ford, near Arundel, West Sussex.
Many of them were members of local campaign group Communities Against Ford Eco-town (CAFE), which was set up in April following Housing Minister Caroline Flint's announcement of 15 possible locations for new environmentally-friendly towns. Click here for more...
They waved banners and posters as they marched three miles along footpaths in countryside surrounding the shortlisted site at Ford, near Arundel, West Sussex.
Many of them were members of local campaign group Communities Against Ford Eco-town (CAFE), which was set up in April following Housing Minister Caroline Flint's announcement of 15 possible locations for new environmentally-friendly towns. Click here for more...
Only five eco-towns could be built
As few as five eco-towns could be built as opposition mounts against Gordon Brown's plans to build 10 "green" settlements across England, a Government minister has admitted.
The admission by Baroness Andrews, the Under Secretary of State for Housing, is deeply embarrassing for the Prime Minister. Click here for more...
The admission by Baroness Andrews, the Under Secretary of State for Housing, is deeply embarrassing for the Prime Minister. Click here for more...
Not bothered then...
Hi Mr. Gummidge,
As you can see am quite immersed in "eco stuff" this morning. There is an absolutely WONDERFUL account of the debate at Westminster on 3rd June which I think all the CAFE supporters would be delighted to read - the Right Horrible Caroline Flint-heart didn't even bother to turn up. Maybe she didn't dare. Read it here...
Kind regards, Tricia
As you can see am quite immersed in "eco stuff" this morning. There is an absolutely WONDERFUL account of the debate at Westminster on 3rd June which I think all the CAFE supporters would be delighted to read - the Right Horrible Caroline Flint-heart didn't even bother to turn up. Maybe she didn't dare. Read it here...
Kind regards, Tricia
Friday 6 June 2008
All the time in the world for the mundane things...
Don't go shopping tomorrow, don't lay in, don't make up an excuse because you have the rest of your life for those things... If you have never protested before or been on a rally then Saturday June 7th is a good time to start.
Pull on your marching boots and pop along to Yapton Green for 10.00 am. There will be a rally, a march and an opportunity for you protest against this Ford Eco-Town folly...
It will take up just a few hours of you time - not too much to ask for, is it?
See you there... ;0)
Pull on your marching boots and pop along to Yapton Green for 10.00 am. There will be a rally, a march and an opportunity for you protest against this Ford Eco-Town folly...
It will take up just a few hours of you time - not too much to ask for, is it?
See you there... ;0)
Thursday 5 June 2008
The Green Flag - written by a friend!!!
The locals' flag is brightest green
Because town plans are most obscene
And never will we let them build
Five thousand houses in our fields
So raise the verdant standard high
And let it soar in Sussex skies
Though builders rage and planners sneer
We’ll keep the green flag flying here
Because town plans are most obscene
And never will we let them build
Five thousand houses in our fields
So raise the verdant standard high
And let it soar in Sussex skies
Though builders rage and planners sneer
We’ll keep the green flag flying here
Slogans for Saturday
So we've been thinking about possible slogans for Saturday's march!
Put some ideas up - here are a few - some more surreal than others - which says something about the people I asked for ideas!!!!:
Put some ideas up - here are a few - some more surreal than others - which says something about the people I asked for ideas!!!!:
- Not Eco, just Gordon
- Not Eco, just Green Wash
- Grow food not concrete
- Ecce Eco - No No (Well at least it would be good for a chant)
- They tried to make me go all Eco - I said No, No, No (Bit of Amy!!)
- Eco-Town - oxymoron of the year
- Eco Eco Eco - Out Out Out
- A million Carrots not a million bricks
- Conkers not concrete
- Green fields not a Brown legacy
- Beetroots not commuter roots
Wednesday 4 June 2008
Dear Caroline
I chose to live in Yapton Village because my parents settled here in 1967 to bring my sister and I up away from the slums of Portsmouth where my Father (Fred Jackson), grew up.
Fred was a proud man, he self built our family home here in Yapton, and ran his own business as a Blacksmith in Mead Lane, Bognor. There are plenty of examples of his work around Sussex - he was commissioned to create the Millennium Beacon on Bognor Regis sea front.
He enjoyed the countryside and loved nature - it was often an inspiration for his iron work. When Fred passed away less than three years ago, only eight days after my Mother, he truly believed he was going back to nature - this is the nature you want to concrete over with a so called Eco-Town.
Fred would not have supported an Eco-Town and I feel that forcing this upon me is an abuse to my right to live in a very special part of Sussex, where I know my Mother and Father in memory, are not far away.
Please listen to the people, not developers.
kind regards,
Ms Tracey Jackson
Eco-towns Select Committee - Day 6
Summary Statement – Wednesday 4th June 2008
Existing Land Uses
In the first session this morning on existing land uses, we heard about the range of uses in the area at present, and some outline of the proposed uses in the Eco Town. The vision group stated that they have general support of Ford Prison and SW water, partly on the basis of the energy/waste proposals, but also because of employment/training linkages.
With regard to the impact on the existing communities, the promoters argue that the scheme is at an early stage, and is only dealing with broad principles at this stage. If the scheme is supported to later stages they would want to engage with local communities to work with them on these issues.
With regard to the Brownfield/Greenfield debate, there is no disagreement that a large part of the site is good agricultural land, but the government’s definitions of PDL now allows curtilage land to be brought within the definition. This results in a range of figures, from the small amount of land actually under concrete, to the larger area including curtilage land now under agriculture, and there is clearly a local perception that the area is largely green.
Deliverability
The discussion opened with a presentation by the promoters of their overall deliverability strategy. This included an explanation of the flexible terms being discussed with landowners, which would leave a residual land value, rather than being bound to a fixed land value from the outset. They also advised that they were confident that this would generate a capital sum of the order of £200m to contribute to the scheme. They also outlined how their involvement in other similar developments gave them confidence that this would be sufficient to deliver the scheme broadly as outlined, and gave some examples of the sort of costs they were assuming, such as for the schools and the railway station.
They went on the explain how their proposals for generating energy from waste would factor into the scheme, not only by delivering increased revenue (through agreement with the energy providers), but also by the interest energy providers would have in investing in the scheme. Examples were given of the basic energy infrastructure envisaged, and its life expectancy.
Many questions then arose about the background to this energy provision, referring back to the discussion on energy and waste, when the Select Committee expressed its concern at the prospect of an Eco town based on imported waste, and the number of lorry movements necessary to service the energy generation. The promoters have agreed to discuss these matters with the County Waste officers in an attempt to provide agreed figures to enable the County Waste officers to advise the Select Committee for its final report. When questioned about whether the Eco Town was a platform for a waste facility or vice versa, the promoters argued that the two elements are symbiotic, and work very efficiently together.
With regard to depending for deliverability on the A27 bypass as a pre-requisite, the promoters confirmed their initial position, which is that some development could commence ahead of a by-pass, which would not be available before 2018, and also that CLG are encouraging schemes to be independent of road improvements. They accept that the Eco Town would generate external traffic movements, but argue that these would be significantly less than from conventional developments, because of the design and investment in alternative transport.
Inquiry supporting documents can be found here.
Existing Land Uses
In the first session this morning on existing land uses, we heard about the range of uses in the area at present, and some outline of the proposed uses in the Eco Town. The vision group stated that they have general support of Ford Prison and SW water, partly on the basis of the energy/waste proposals, but also because of employment/training linkages.
With regard to the impact on the existing communities, the promoters argue that the scheme is at an early stage, and is only dealing with broad principles at this stage. If the scheme is supported to later stages they would want to engage with local communities to work with them on these issues.
With regard to the Brownfield/Greenfield debate, there is no disagreement that a large part of the site is good agricultural land, but the government’s definitions of PDL now allows curtilage land to be brought within the definition. This results in a range of figures, from the small amount of land actually under concrete, to the larger area including curtilage land now under agriculture, and there is clearly a local perception that the area is largely green.
Deliverability
The discussion opened with a presentation by the promoters of their overall deliverability strategy. This included an explanation of the flexible terms being discussed with landowners, which would leave a residual land value, rather than being bound to a fixed land value from the outset. They also advised that they were confident that this would generate a capital sum of the order of £200m to contribute to the scheme. They also outlined how their involvement in other similar developments gave them confidence that this would be sufficient to deliver the scheme broadly as outlined, and gave some examples of the sort of costs they were assuming, such as for the schools and the railway station.
They went on the explain how their proposals for generating energy from waste would factor into the scheme, not only by delivering increased revenue (through agreement with the energy providers), but also by the interest energy providers would have in investing in the scheme. Examples were given of the basic energy infrastructure envisaged, and its life expectancy.
Many questions then arose about the background to this energy provision, referring back to the discussion on energy and waste, when the Select Committee expressed its concern at the prospect of an Eco town based on imported waste, and the number of lorry movements necessary to service the energy generation. The promoters have agreed to discuss these matters with the County Waste officers in an attempt to provide agreed figures to enable the County Waste officers to advise the Select Committee for its final report. When questioned about whether the Eco Town was a platform for a waste facility or vice versa, the promoters argued that the two elements are symbiotic, and work very efficiently together.
With regard to depending for deliverability on the A27 bypass as a pre-requisite, the promoters confirmed their initial position, which is that some development could commence ahead of a by-pass, which would not be available before 2018, and also that CLG are encouraging schemes to be independent of road improvements. They accept that the Eco Town would generate external traffic movements, but argue that these would be significantly less than from conventional developments, because of the design and investment in alternative transport.
Inquiry supporting documents can be found here.
Eco Street backs us...
Eco Street one of the biggest and longest running eco blogs is behind us! "It’s not very often that you’ll hear us campaigning against something like this eco town. But as guest contributor Michael Smith points out, this eco town is not as “eco” as it’s being made out to be, and it risks turning beautiful countryside and farmlands into just another car-filled urban area".
Now that is a result, which has driven thousands of visitors to this blog since last week!
Now that is a result, which has driven thousands of visitors to this blog since last week!
Tuesday 3 June 2008
Food, not houses
World food production must rise by 50 per cent by 2030 to meet increasing demand, UN chief Ban Ki-moon told world leaders Tuesday at a summit grappling with hunger and civil unrest caused by food price hikes. Click here for more...
Thanks Mr K Chenery for posting this link
Thanks Mr K Chenery for posting this link
Eco-towns Select Committee - Day 5
Summary Statement – Tuesday 3rd June 2008
On many of the topics discussed under the overall heading of Environment there was a common theme in that while the area for the proposed Eco Town is not of itself of any great distinction, the environmental implications of an Eco Town need to be carefully considered.
On biodiversity, the particular concerns were with increased visitor pressure on the designated Climping Beach SSSI, and also Binsted Woods. While any major development in this general area would increase visitor pressures, the proximity of the Ford site to Climping beach was a matter of concern. However, there was a view that, on the information available, the biodiversity
concerns are not a ‘show stopper’.
On Flood risk there were again issues of assessment and analysis – for instance any impact of the proposals on the hydrology of the river Arun. It was established that 80% of the site is in flood risk zone 1, which is safe from flooding. Of the remaining 20%, much of this is in land north of the railway line and east of the Ford Rd, and proposed as managed open space/landscaping, so a very small part of flood risk zone 3 land would be in the area to be developed, and the promoters argue that any such area can be planned and managed so as not to put houses at risk of flooding.
We discussed the spine road, and established that it will not form a significant flood defence, and reassurances were given about the bridge over the railway acting as a bund to retain water ruin off from lower lying land to the north. There was some concern, however about the vulnerability of the Ford Rd north of the site to flooding.
On landscape and heritage, we heard about concerns about the role of the Arun Valley as a unique transition form the sea to the downs as presented to the South Downs National Park inquiry. Although the enquiry rejected boundary extension these are matters of serious concern. We heard that views from the town of Arundel itself are limited, but there are long distance
views into the site from Arundel Park and Perry Hill above Burpham. The promoters argued that visibility was not of itself a damning factor, noting that many buildings on the site already are unsightly and prominent.
Like other environmental designations, more information would be needed on e.g. the impact of visitor pressure on the Downs and light pollution to properly appraise the proposals. Developer contributions would be appropriate to deal with increased visitor pressure.
The promoters were challenged about the design concept, and argued that they were now moving away from the ‘Versailles’ approach and would be happy to follow the County’s Landscape guidelines.
On heritage, the main concern was on the ‘outstanding’ rural setting of St Mary’s at Yapton, with concerns also about views of Ford Place, particularly form the river.
On archaeology, although there are no specific known areas of interest it is expected that the site would yield evidence from Bronze Age through to Roman and Mediaeval periods – the promoters accepted that substantial survey information would be necessary. There was also an acceptance the more recent interest of airfield use would also merit investigation and recording. The question of unexploded ordnance was raised, and while the MOD will have given the site a clean bill of health when it was decommissioned, this would require careful attention.
Inquiry supporting documents can be found here.
On many of the topics discussed under the overall heading of Environment there was a common theme in that while the area for the proposed Eco Town is not of itself of any great distinction, the environmental implications of an Eco Town need to be carefully considered.
On biodiversity, the particular concerns were with increased visitor pressure on the designated Climping Beach SSSI, and also Binsted Woods. While any major development in this general area would increase visitor pressures, the proximity of the Ford site to Climping beach was a matter of concern. However, there was a view that, on the information available, the biodiversity
concerns are not a ‘show stopper’.
On Flood risk there were again issues of assessment and analysis – for instance any impact of the proposals on the hydrology of the river Arun. It was established that 80% of the site is in flood risk zone 1, which is safe from flooding. Of the remaining 20%, much of this is in land north of the railway line and east of the Ford Rd, and proposed as managed open space/landscaping, so a very small part of flood risk zone 3 land would be in the area to be developed, and the promoters argue that any such area can be planned and managed so as not to put houses at risk of flooding.
We discussed the spine road, and established that it will not form a significant flood defence, and reassurances were given about the bridge over the railway acting as a bund to retain water ruin off from lower lying land to the north. There was some concern, however about the vulnerability of the Ford Rd north of the site to flooding.
On landscape and heritage, we heard about concerns about the role of the Arun Valley as a unique transition form the sea to the downs as presented to the South Downs National Park inquiry. Although the enquiry rejected boundary extension these are matters of serious concern. We heard that views from the town of Arundel itself are limited, but there are long distance
views into the site from Arundel Park and Perry Hill above Burpham. The promoters argued that visibility was not of itself a damning factor, noting that many buildings on the site already are unsightly and prominent.
Like other environmental designations, more information would be needed on e.g. the impact of visitor pressure on the Downs and light pollution to properly appraise the proposals. Developer contributions would be appropriate to deal with increased visitor pressure.
The promoters were challenged about the design concept, and argued that they were now moving away from the ‘Versailles’ approach and would be happy to follow the County’s Landscape guidelines.
On heritage, the main concern was on the ‘outstanding’ rural setting of St Mary’s at Yapton, with concerns also about views of Ford Place, particularly form the river.
On archaeology, although there are no specific known areas of interest it is expected that the site would yield evidence from Bronze Age through to Roman and Mediaeval periods – the promoters accepted that substantial survey information would be necessary. There was also an acceptance the more recent interest of airfield use would also merit investigation and recording. The question of unexploded ordnance was raised, and while the MOD will have given the site a clean bill of health when it was decommissioned, this would require careful attention.
Inquiry supporting documents can be found here.
Monday 2 June 2008
To be zero carbon, or not to be...
That is the question? I don't want to bore you with the gas main and zero carbon thing I blogged about last thursday - however, I found this tasty snip:
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of housing in eco-towns is planned to be zero-carbon. [203461]
Caroline Flint: As we have set out in the consultation document, “Eco-towns—Living a greener future”, the development as a whole, not just housing, should reach zero carbon standards.
Read it here: House of Commons Handwritten Answers for May 16th
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of housing in eco-towns is planned to be zero-carbon. [203461]
Caroline Flint: As we have set out in the consultation document, “Eco-towns—Living a greener future”, the development as a whole, not just housing, should reach zero carbon standards.
Read it here: House of Commons Handwritten Answers for May 16th
Daily Telegraph article - worth a read
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/2058520/Eco-towns-Labour-fears-electoral-backlash.html
Interesting to see some Labour politicians coming out now and criticising the imposition of Eco Towns on unwilling communities. To see Labour taking the side of capitalist developers proposals against local democracy makes you realise how far these people have strayed from their roots!
Interesting to see some Labour politicians coming out now and criticising the imposition of Eco Towns on unwilling communities. To see Labour taking the side of capitalist developers proposals against local democracy makes you realise how far these people have strayed from their roots!
The march is going to be fun!
Like Mr Gummidge, I've been out leafletting about the march round Climping! By the feedback I got it's going to be fun! From the lady in Bairds' Farm Shop who says she is bringing her nieces along, to the many residents I chatted to on the way - it sounds like we should get a good turnout.
We need you - NOW!
The final day of the enquiry will be Wednesday 4th June at Yapton Parish Hall 9.30am. Please come along as there will be a Q&A session - your chance to ask questions has arrived. Thanks for the support and hope to see many of you at the march Saturday 7th June!
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